10 Days, 10 Ways to Return to Your Best Self: A T'shuvah Guide for the High Holidays
As Jews around the world attend services on Erev Rosh Hashanah, the evening before the first full day of the Jewish New Year, the period most commonly known as the High Holy Days or High Holidays begins. These 10 days lead right up to Yom Kippur, the Day of Repentance. During this time, also known as the Days of Awe, we are told to turn inward and reflect upon our words and deeds over the last year. We also are supposed to make right our wrongs. Although we are told that our fate for the coming year has been "inscribed" in the proverbial Book of Life, we have 10 day to alter the decree. For on Yom Kippur, as the sun begins to set and the holiday ends, our fate for the year is "sealed" in the Book of Life.
Thus, these 10 days hold some import for Jews. However, even non-Jews can take advantage of the energy of this period and look at themselves and heal and correct their ways and the hurt they might have caused to others. Each fall, Jews and non-Jews alike have the opportunity to take the energy of this holiday to create something new. These 10 days provide a lovely yearly practical spirituality and self-improvement or personal growth practice.
In Judaism, we say the 10 Days of Awe are a time for t'shuvah. T'shuvah is a Hebrew word that means "to turn." Often we talk about t'shuvah as turning or returning